Captain George Steiger: A POW Diary

My uncle, George Steiger, was stationed on Corregidor Island in the
Philippines in 1941 and was captured by the Japanese in May, 1942 when the
island surrendered. The following
is a record of his diary entries from July 1941 to September 1945.
It is transcribed from a blurred typed carbon copy made by his wife, Ottly
Goodrich Steiger. Additional information inserted in the typed copy by
Ottly Steiger is shown in italics. In some cases the text was so blurred as to be difficult to decipher. In addition there were some typos and unfamiliar abreviations. When the meaning was reasonably clear, I made the correction. When the meaning was uncertain, I left it "as is," in some cases inserting a comment in brackets [ ].

The initial pages detail Capt. Steiger's trip to Corregidor via Honolulu
and contain some repetitive material. I have not made any attempt to
edit these accounts, but copied them exactly as typed by Ottly Steiger.
The only changes I have made were to correct minor errors in spelling and
punctuation. I deleted a few paragraphs which were personal in nature and
not relevant to the diary record. When this was done, it was so noted.

George survived his ordeal and was promoted to the rank of Major after
the war. He had a few good years until his health deteriorated.
He died of cardiovascular problems in 1960 at the age of 56.

Letter written before the outbreak of hostilities:
I am on all night duty as Field Officer of the day, which consists in
keeping watch at the Harbor Defense Signal Station, ready to alert the troops
in case of attack. It is potentially a very hot spot. Until someone with a
lot more rank could get here I am commander of all the troops in the Harbor
Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. Until something unusual happens, however,
there is nothing to do but stay awake. It takes me about 2 hrs. to write
a reasonably decent account of the trip to date, so I have decided to
strike off a few carbons. I hope you all won't mind too much. O.K.?
Here goes.

We left Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, at noon, Aug. 28,
[1941] on the the U.S.A.T. Pres. Pierce. It is a 550 foot passenger
cargo-passenger steamer, built in 1922. It is capable of 18 K., which is
the same as flying for an Army transport. It was formerly a
round-the-world liner for Dollar Lines, President Lines, and was once
owned by Pacific Mail. The Army took it over about July, and this was
Trip #2 to P. I. It had just come from dry dock, and developed engine
trouble before we cleared the G. G. Bridge, so we put about and
anchored halfway between Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf. Repairs were
completed by 8 P.M. and after a one hour test cruise about the Bay, we
went out under the Bridge at 9 P.M. We had aboard about 200 officers,
plus a battalion, 1000 men, of the 200th New Mexico National guard, an
anti-aircraft outfit. Due [to] the delay, we had to slow down to avoid
arriving in Honolulu at night, so it took us 5 days, instead of 4
1/2.

We were in Honolulu from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. I went ashore with a
Lieutenant Stecker, son of a Regular officer, who has been out here
before, and knows his way about. Went swimming at Waikiki Beach, and to
the Royal Hawaiian Hotel for a couple drinks. Waikiki is O.K. but aside
from the fact that the waves break about 1/2 mile out, it is no better
than Calif. beaches. The bottom contains a lot of coral, which cuts hell
out of your feet! We were back downtown by noon, so we hired a taxi and
went for a tour of the island. Saw the "Upside down Waterfall" where the
wind blows the water back up into the air and dissipates it, instead of
allowing it to fall over the cliff. This is close to the Nuaana Pali,
over which King Kamehameha drove his enemies, as told in the words of a
popular song of some years back. The wind blows up the face of this
cliff, which is the local suicide jump, with terrific force. The latest
tale about it is that a native who jumped off in a suicide attempt
recently was blown back to the starting point with only a broken wrist
instead of a broken neck. Aside from the fact that everything is very
green and beautiful, I saw nothing so terrific about the place. Honolulu
is very little different from a town of its size in the States, except
that there are more dark skinned people on the street. I am certainly
glad that I got to see it at Uncle's expense. I would have felt very
badly to have spent my own $ on the trip. I'll admit that you can't see
all of such a place in one day, but I saw enough of it to form an
opinion. So much for Honolulu. If you want a lot of sentimental gush
about the place, read the Dole Pineapple ads, or some Honolulu Chamber
of Commerce literature.

Between Honolulu and Manilla we had a heavy cruiser for an escort,
and ran blacked-out at night. About a week out of Honolulu we were in a
junior typhoon for about 36 hrs. The wind attained a measured speed of
75 m.p.h., and it rained so hard that sometimes we could barely see the
cruiser, which was only about 200 yards away. The waves were high, the
ship tossed and everything was lovely. Aside from that, we saw not a
single ship (or a married one either), only one small island about 5
miles off, and the trip was quite dull.

Arrived at Manila at 3 P.M. Tues. Sept. 16, 12 days out of Honolulu
and 17 days (running time) out of Frisco. We just missed the Corregidor
boat so went to the Manila Hotel for the night, as there is only one
boat per day out here. Got a very nice room for $3.50. Stecker and I
went down town and walked about a bit. He went to high school here for
three years, so knows the town pretty well. The principal shopping
street is called the Escolte. It is so narrow that two cars just have
room to pass, and only about 3 blocks long, but has some good little
shops and larger stores which would stack up favorably in the States.
When you get one block off it you are among the natives. They are small,
dirty, smelly, and a lot like the Mexicans and Indians of Southern Cal.
About 8 we went to a very modern, air conditioned night club called the
Jai Alai for dinner. The place takes its name from the game of jai alai
(high a lie) which is a glorified hardball. After eating, we went to
another part of the place to watch the play, which is very fast, and
interesting to watch. They have a pari-mutual set-up and bet on each
event, which takes 10 to 15 min. to play. They play from 7 to 11
P.M. After an hour or so of this we went up to their Sky Room (so called
because you can't see out of it) and drank whiskey sours until closing
time. Next day we walked and rode about until 3 P.M. when we boarded the
boat for Corregidor. Worth mention, I think, is the taxi situation.
Taxis outnumber private cars about 3 or 4 to 1. They are very cheap, so
you can ride anywhere about town for 25 or 50 cents. To drive a taxi,
you head it down the street, put a heavy foot on the gas, clamp one hand
on the horn with a death-grip, and hope. The most important item is
the horn button. They keep up such an incessant beeping that it almost
drives me nuts, especially after the quiet of Corregidor.

Arrived Corregidor, which is an island in the mouth on Manila Bay
about 30 mi. from Manila, about 5:30 P.M. Were taken to the Corregidor
Officers Club for dinner, and then shown to our quarters. All wives were
sent home several months ago, so we live in groups of three in quarters
intended for family use. The houses are quite large with high ceilings,
wide porches, and most of their wall space devoted to sliding "windows."
These windows are composed of three inch squares of translucent shell.
The high wind and heavy gunfire will not permit the use of glass here on
"the rock." The houses are of two stories, surrounded by tropical trees
and bushes and are quite adequate; the plumbing is quite old, as some of
the houses were built in 1915. I live downstairs with a captain from
St. Louis. My room is about 20 by 20 with private bath. I keep 2 150
watt bulbs burning in my clothes closet at all times to prevent mildew.
If you do not do this, mildew [that] is an inch thick will form
overnight. We have a cook and 2 house boys, who keep the house clean and
do the laundry, of which there is plenty. The cook gets $15 and the house
boys $10 per month, plus board. This is quite cheap, but they don't
overwork. About the only clothes I wear which I brought with me are sox
and underwear. All my uniforms I have had made since I came here. Also a
white uniform, a tux (black trousers and white coat) and a mess jacket,
either of which must be worn after retreat. Am having a white sharkskin
suit made to wear to town. Golf, tennis, softball, pool, badminton,
softball [sic], swimming and bowling are available. I am too lazy,
however, and usually go to the show, which we call the cine. There are 8
white nurses and over 300 officers on the Rock, so that is out.
We get to Manila about once a month. I went in last week and for the
first time to see what I could see. Went to the Cantalina, a taxi dance
with mestiza hostesses. I've seen lots of Mexicans and some dark clouds
I could do with, but nothing there I would be found dead with. They are
all good dancers, so I danced a few but my heart was not in it. Saw a lot
of fellows who came over on the Pierce, out looking, same as I. Had some
drinks with them and went home. All in all, my trip to town did not add
up to much.

I have a battery of 12" mortars in the 59th C.A. [Coast Artillery],
which is a white
regiment commanded by Col. Paul D. Bunker. He was executive for
organized reserves at L.A. for several years, and I know him fairly
well. The battery was organized on June 1 this year, but is in a good
state of training. I am expecting to be assigned to a battery of three
inch anti-aircraft guns, in which case I will go to one of the outpost
forts, of which there are five. We go to work at 7:30 A.M. Dinner 11:30
to 1. Off at 3, unless there is a night drill or alert, in which case we
may be out all nite. Off Wednesday and Saturday P.M. We had about 15
inches of rain the first 2 weeks I was here, but no rain for the last 2
weeks. The rainy season is over this month. On account of the elevation
of the rock the weather is cooler than in Manila. I sleep under one
blanket after midnight. The weather is O.K. The duty is O.K. The
quarters are O.K. If they just hadn't chased all the women home
everything would be O.K. As it is it could be a lot worse, so I might as
well like. So much for the travelogue.

bye now

Copy of letter from Walt Cadmus, Dec. 17, 1960
Dear Ottly,
Please do not interpret my delay in writing to you as caused by neglect
or disinterest, but it is quite difficult for me to collect my thoughts
so that I may give you some of the information that you would probably
like to hear.

I was quite sorely grieved to hear of George's untimely passing
because we had been quite close at a time when friends were valuable,
indeed, and quite hard to come by.

(two paragraphs deleted)

As you already know, he was very conscious of strength, particularly
as applied to the body and toughness of character. In fact, it seemed to
me that George almost worshipped physical strength and "guts"
and was very proud of his own physique. He took great pride in his body
and gave it as good care as he could and when the sad day came that it
would not do what he wanted it to do, he was almost as bewildered as a
child who has found some favorite toy would not go as fast and far as it
should.

It was a combination of these traits of his that brought us together
and probably resulted in our friendship developing. I first met George
at Cabanatuan Prison Camp about the 4th of July, 1942. I had not known
him on Corregidor since most of my service had been in Bataan. While
they were organizing our section of the camp at Cabanatuan, he was put
in charge of a series of three barracks which held 60 men apiece. Each
of these barracks then was in charge of a junior officer and these
officers made up George's staff. it was more or less on the same
organization as in the Army with George acting as battalion commander
and those of us in charge of barracks as company commanders. I don't
remember exactly how we were thrown together (George did remember the
first occasion of his meeting Cadmus!) except that my earliest
recollections of George were how scrupulously clean he kept himself and
tried to encourage others to do the same in order to maintain their
morale. His first gesture of friendship to me was an offer of some black
market food he had gotten somehow. This happened after he discovered
that it didn't necessarily take a big man to be ornery and
to...[sentence unfinished]

We subsequently had a little group that stuck together most of our
prison life and we called ourselves the "Tough Bastards" and
George was always saying he was "bucking for president" but as
far as he was concerned I was the president. He was kind of shot with
patriotism and always felt cheated that he had been in a position during
the siege of Corregidor that prevented him from ever firing a shot in
anger. Perhaps the fact that I had seen considerable combat was another
thing that caused him to be attracted to me. He was, as you know,
battery commander of a group of guns that were pointing in the wrong
direction [at] Corregidor. These were old fixed-in-concrete emplacements
and it was always a galling thing to George that he had been kept there
while there was so much fighting going on. I am sure that if he had been
allowed the opportunity for frontline combat, he either have gotten his
fool head blown off or earned several medals.

We really became quite close when the Japs moved us from Cabanatuan
to Japan in the fall of 1942. We arrived in Osaka, which was to be our
home for the next six months, on Thanksgiving Day. As long as I live I
shall remember secretively sharing a can of hash with George that he
had somehow saved all of this time. He took a lot of pride in being able
to smuggle things past the Japs and together we did take many chances
just to prove that we could do it. We hoarded unauthorized things such
as watches, compass, knives, and maps--all of this more or less for the
kicks of it. That winter was a particularly severe one. We had been
selected as a group of the most healthy prisoners and sent to Japan to
contribute to their war effort by performing coolie labor. George and I
were located at Umeda Bumshu, which was just a few blocks from the main
railroad terminal of Osaka. We were leased to a civilian freight moving
company by the Army and worked at jobs of moving lumber, scrap iron,
coal, and metal ores. This work was done by the coolie method in various
small details around the Osaka area. I don't remember exactly how many
prisoners were in our original unit except that I do remember that
during our first three months in Japan 30% of our camp had either died
or been beaten to death. It was during this winter that George came up
against something he didn't think he could lick. That was a severe
illness without the benefit of medicine, warmth or adequate food. We
took care of him as best we could. Although some of his buddies gave him
up a little too soon and more or less forgot about him, I gave him many
a tongue-lashing and urged him to hang on, which he finally did. In
fact, he subsequently told me that one of the main reasons that
recovered was that he was afraid I was beginning to mean what I said
and would leave him to die with the rest of the weaklings. Of course, he
had exposed himself to this sickness by insisting earlier in the year
that he was one of the strongest men in the camp. In fact, he performed
calisthenics for the guard so that they would not take him to another
camp with the older men (no doubt Zentsuji). He wanted to stay with his
friends so he could share their company and assist them when they were
sick. For this he almost exposed himself to certain death so, of course,
all I could do was stick by him. He had been very generous with his time
and what few worldly goods he had to all of those he called friend.
Really, when I look back on it now, we had many happy moments because
one of the funny things about life is that you learn to be happy under
the most adverse circumstances at times. George and I used to pair off
and work together even though we did look like Mutt and Jeff. [Cartoon
characters in the funny papers] We were both individualists. Although
some people told us we were knot heads, we had a good time stealing
apples and fish from the cargoes we unloaded. Occasionally we would drop
pig iron or heavy scrap from the barges in the canal, which made our
Japanese friends very unhappy. Later in the year of 1943 about August or
Sept. we were moved to an island off Tokyo Bay to a place called
Zentsuji. Here we began receiving better treatment, a few Red Cross
supplies and our first letters from home. This was particularly an
officers' camp. Most of the work we did here was of an agricultural
nature and certainly was not nearly so strenuous as that we had been
subjected to in Osaka. It was here that we read, had informal classes,
argued, fought the bed bugs and dreamed and talked of home. One of the
things I remember quite clearly was George talking of you and about
how much he hoped you would be able to resume your life together. He
had a watch you had given him which was engraved on the back "Best
Ever." He was very proud of this and told me that it is what he had
been to you, best ever.

The days somehow passed at this camp and then in July of 1945 as the
bombings became more severe and closer and the invasion of the Islands
became more imminent, we were moved to a camp high in the mountains
north of Tokyo near a town called Fukui. It was here that we received
the joyful news of Hiroshima and the end of the war. I can still
remember that day very well and almost see George sitting near me by
the stockade wall talking about our wonderful return home. We got the
news of the surrender on George's birthday and I thought that he was 40
at the time because we laughed and joked that life begins at 40,
especially for George Steiger. Will, we can be thankful that he did
live to have several years of freedom because all of us who returned
actually came back on borrowed time. Although it is a bitter thing to
say, maybe in the long run George's passing at this time may be the best
thing for him, and what he really would have wanted. I would have
been too cruel to see a man like him waste away and suffer with a
prolonged illness. I think it would have been too hard for his spirit to
take.

I have chided myself severely the past few weeks for not having
responded last year when you informed me that George was having periods
of depression and just the week before I received your letter I had
vowed to myself that I would write to George a long letter to cheer him
up if I could. After all, I felt I owed it to him for having had the
benefit of his generous friendship during those trying times. Now that
he is gone I feel that I have failed him in his time of need. However,
I believe that probably both of us subconsciously were trying to avoid
the memories of the war when we failed to actively keep up our
contacts.

I haven't intended to be presumptuous by giving you my analysis of
George, but have tried to tell you how he impressed me when life was
down to the bare essentials, and also to indicate to you how he reacted
to certain situations. Maybe some of the things I have said will be of
comfort to you and I certainly hope so. If there are any questions in
your mind about specific things you may have heard George mention, I
will be only too glad to answer them for you. I do appreciate having
received a letter from you regarding his death. He was a great guy
and could be counted on when the chips were down.

Sincerely yours,

Walt Cadmus

The Diary: We Were Guests of His Majesty

(Comments in italics were inserted by Ottly Steiger at the time
she typed the manuscript from George Steiger's handwritten copy)

In 1929 the War Department of the United States Army authorized five
new regiments in the Coast Artillery Reserve in the Southern California
area. In order to fill the units promptly, membership was solicited from
city and county engineering departments. Along with a number of others
from [Los Angeles] City Survey, I attended a block of nine evenings of
instruction given by Col Long of the Coast Artillery Corps in the
Chamber of Commerce Building at 9th and Broadway, Los Angeles. I also
attended Citizens' Military Training Camp that summer at Camp John P.
Prior in Monterey for thirty days. I was sworn into the enlisted
reserve, as a condition of eligibility for appointment as an officer, on
Oct. 21, 1929. Having passed the board, I was discharged to accept a
commission as 2nd Lt. CA on 22 December, 1929.

I went to reserve summer camps with the 63rd CA at fort MacArthur
in 1931, 1933, 1934, and 1940, and at Fort Rosecrans in 1939. In 1937, I was
attached to the Umpires' Group at San Luis Obispo 4th Army maneuvers for
a two weeks camp. I received my rank of 1st Lt. on 17 February, 1933
and that of Captain on 24 July, 1937.

On 14 April, 1941, I was ordered to active duty with the 6th Army at
Fort Winfield Scott, Presidio at San Francisco, pending activation of
the 56th CA. Officers of the new unit attended school conducted by
officers of Fort Scott until 1 June, at which time the 56th CA, a 155 mm
gun regiment, was activated. I commanded D Battery of the 2nd Battalion
at Fort Cronkhite, which was across the Golden Gate Bridge and was part
of the San Francisco Harbor Defenses. The regimental commander and the
3rd Battalion commanders were the only regular officers in the unit. No
other officers had had even CCC experience. Troops for the unit were
drafted under the Selective Service Act. They had been in training at
Camp Callan near San Diego. (Torn down after VJ Day.) They were
received at the newly built Fort Cronkhite in several drafts during
June and July. On 21 June I flew to Los Angeles for the week end and on
Monday proceeded to Camp Callan. The Headquarters Batteries for the
entire regiment left on Wednesday morning by train and I acted as train
commander. We arrived a San Francisco the next morning.

Several days after the men of my battery had arrived, I took a detail
to the ordnance officer at Fort Scott and drew my four guns, 155's. We
towed them across the Golden Gate Bridge behind a truck at five miles
an hour but, even so, by the time we reached our destination, one half
[of] the tires were off the wheels. They were of World War I vintage!
Although our unit had four guns and a complete complement of men, only
one ramming stave was available for issue and so only one gun crew could
drill at a time!

On my first pay day, I had an interesting experience. As the battery
commander, I was responsible for the enlisted men's pay. As the Army
paid in cash, the battery clerk made up a list of the monies needed.
This list was sent to the bank in Sausalito the day preceding pay day.
On the day, accompanied by an armed guard from the battery, I went to the
finance officer at Fort Scott and received a draft in the amount of the
total payroll. This I took to the bank and exchanged it [for] the money
previously requested. Back at the battery, we set the money up in piles
of different denominations and started putting it into the envelopes for
the men. The pile of envelopes went down and the piles of money
accordingly, that is all except the pile of $5 bills. It seemed
curiously out of proportion to the others. When we had filled the last
envelope, there remained a large pile of $5 bills. The battery clerk had
been a bank teller prior to his induction into the Army and he know what
had happened. We had requested $300 worth of $5 bills and had been given
300 $5 bills! Needless to say that the bank was very happy to see us when
we knocked on its locked doors at 6 P.M.! They were still checking for
the missing $1,200.00.

However, my troubles and experiences with the new regiment were
destined to be of short duration. Late in July a call went out to all
posts for officers to go to the Philippines. Col. Frank Drake,
commanding my regiment, held a drawing on 30 July to select men for
this duty. Having excused officers with small children in their family,
the remaining men drew lots. Two unmarried lieutenants and a captain were
thus selected from our unit. Never had I been lucky with any kind of
drawing but I was the Captain selected! After all the facts were in, I
guess you could still say I was not lucky.

Many stories could be told of less fair methods of selection and of
attempts made to evade this duty. One officer of my acquaintance was
successful in getting a reversal after being selected. He had two small
children and probably should not have been ordered to the Philippines in
the first place. However, the officer who replaced him had three small
children even younger than those of the first officer. Capt. Grow did
not try to get out of the assignment and I am happy to report that he
served in the Philippines, was taken prisoner of war, and returned to
this country in 1945. A few officers tried to wriggle off the hook by
turning into the hospital with imaginary ills. We called it gangplank
fever. An officer of my acquaintance, failed in such an attempt and was
shipped out with us. He did not survive our prison experience.

Those of us ordered to the Philippines were scheduled to sail about
7 August on the Pierce, one of the ships of the President Lines which
was on lease to the Army. Due to engine overhaul, we did not depart
until 28 August. I was home for the week end prior to our sailing and
returned to San Francisco on Monday. We were supposed to sail on Tuesday
but further delay put off our sailing until Thursday. Ottly was unable
to get away from her job at 20th Century-Fox due to vacation schedules
and could not be there to see us off. I telephoned her from the pier
and we said a tearful goodbye. Arlene and Russ Fisher were with me at
the pier. Russ was the alternate selection go in the event something
had prevented me from going!

I was in a starboard stateroom with 1st Lt. Charles Erhardt from
Chicago, a Hallmark card salesman, who returned to his job after the
war had ended. Also in our stateroom was 2nd Lt. Gurney Smith from Los
Angeles. Lt. Richard Fulmer, a graduate of Washington State, was also
aboard. The ship carried three hundred and fifty casual officers and the
anti-aircraft gun battalion of the 200th New Mexico National Guard.
Many of these wonderful men were to become my friends. We arrived in
Honolulu the night of 2 Sept. and were allowed to go ashore from eight
until five the following day.

I had the good fortune to be with Lt. Bill Stecker of the 56th. His
father was an Army officer and Bill had spent some time both in Hawaii
and in the Philippines and so he knew his way around. We went for a swim
at Waikiki Beach, had a drink at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, hired a taxi
and rode up over the Pali and down thru Huuana [?] Valley and around
the north end of the island. Prior to our sailing a Hula troupe
entertained us with dancing.

A further description of this stop is contained in George's
diary and I copy it for you:

We sighted Diamond Head light, which
is just outside the harbor, at about 4 PM. We had to wait outside for
permission to enter the harbor until about 6 PM. We were tied up to the
pier at seven but no one knew at at what time we were to sail so we
couldn't go ashore yet. It was finally decided that we would sail at 7 PM
and given leave to go ashore from 8 to 5. I took off with Lt. Erhardt
and as we walked down the gangplank, we were joined by Bill Stecker. I
had anticipated for some time and with no little pleasure getting back
on solid ground. But, lo and behold, the earth now seemed to sway under
my feet. This unhappy circumstance continued all day-no good! We walked
uptown to the post office and mailed our letters. Then we decided to get
a taxi and go out to Waikiki, but all the taxis were busy. So we took the
bus, which was plenty fast and cost only 10 cents. While we were
standing on the sidewalk at Waikiki, Erhardt saw a good looking girl
across the street and he took off. We saw no more of him until we got
back to the ship. Bill and I went into the bath house and got into swim
trunks. We went out from shore about a city block before the water got
beyond our depth. It was quite warm. The good breakers were still
quite a long way out and since neither of us was in good practice for
swimming, we did not go further. There were not many people in the
water but we did see several good surf board riders. After we came out
of the water, we walked down the street for a half block and stopped at
the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. It was very pretty but probably no different
than hundreds of first class hotels on the mainland. We went in and
bought a drink (55 cents) and then went back downtown. As it was not yet
noon, we decided to take a ride around part of the island. Downtown
Honolulu is just like any other but the back country is green and
lovely. We visited the Pali over which King Kamehameha is said to have
chased his enemies. There is always a terrific wind blowing up on this
cliff. It is a favorite joke in Hawaii that a man jumped off the cliff
only to have the wind blow him back up. Our ride took about three hours
which put us back in town at 3 PM. We bought a couple of drinks and
went aboard the ship. Honolulu is a nice little place but I would not
trade San Francisco or Los Angeles for a dozen of it!

Next morning when we awakened, we found we were being escorted by a
Navy cruiser of the Houston class, 14,000 tons, 605 ft., 100,000
horsepower, with a crew of 1,000 men. The cruiser was capable of making
32 knots per hr. and was manned by 15 six inch guns and 12 five inch AA
guns. On 6 Sept. we crossed the date line and lost Sept. 7th at sea.
(regained 6 Oct. 1945) This was at a time of strained relations with
Japan over the shipping of aviation gas. From the 13th to the 15th of
Sept. we were on the edge of a very bad storm. We experienced winds up
to 70 miles per hr. Seas were dashing up over the bow and at times our
cruiser almost disappeared from sight.

On 16 Sept. we tied up to Pier 7 in Manila. The shore boat was just
leaving for Corregidor and the boys on it gave us calls of
"sucker" for as long as they could by heard. Through an error
in orders, we were detailed to the Air Force. They took us in tow as we
came down the gangplank. At the Army-Navy Club they plied us with
Scotch and soda for a couple of hours before taking us to Nichols Field
for the night. Next day the error was discovered and we were ordered to
Corregidor but too late to catch the afternoon boat. Bill Stecker and I
went into Manila and registered at the Manila Hotel. We went to the
Army-Navy Club for dinner and I saw my first game of Jai Alai that
evening. Next day we toured Manila until time for the 3 PM boat.

Further description of this experience, I quote from George's
diary:

The Pierce docked about 3:30 PM. We were taken 10 blocks away to the
Army-Navy Club where the Air Force was giving a little party in our
honor. We stayed there until 6 PM and then went six miles outside
Manila to Elliot Field. This is headquarters for the Air Force in the
Philippines. Had dinner and then to bed. Next morning we reported for
interviewing and assignment. Someone discovered that our orders read for
duty with the Coast Artillery and the Adjutant started telephoning.
Some telegrapher had omitted the first letter from C. A. C. and that is
why the Air Corps had us! We were told to catch the ferry for Corregidor.
Bill and I went down town and checked into the Manila Hotel, the best in
town and the rooms were $3.50! Had a very good dinner at the Jai Alai
Palace and watched the game. Ended up the evening upstairs at the
"Sky Room," for what reason so-named I could not understand as
you cannot see out of it! It is just a bar and dance. We started out next
morning on a sight seeing tour. Went to the old Spanish Fort Santiago
and walked around town until we were pretty tired. There is a fair
shopping street called the Escolta. It is very narrow with just room for
two cars to pass and no parking. There about half as many shops as on
Hollywood Blvd. but most of them are very modern. The native quarters are
squalor indeed. There were a few baskets of ratty looking vegetables
and nuts for sale. The odor was something! No fresh milk! The cloth and
tailoring were very cheap. Took the ferry to Corregidor at 3 PM.>

In regard to Corregidor, he continues:

The Island of
Corregidor, which is known as the rock, attains a height of 600 ft and
is divided into three zones know as Topside, Middleside and Bottomside.
The native village at the bottom is called a barrio. The commanding
general, Brigadier Gen. Moore, lives at Topside. All intermediate
persons live at an elevation corresponding to their rank. All field
officers and Captains live Topside. Some lieutenants also live Topside
but would have to move if higher ranking officers wanted their quarters.
I am living Topside with Capt. Bull and 1st Lt. Melvin Moore. Since all
women have gone home, we
are assigned to what would normally be quarters for a family. It
contains 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living room, dining room, kitchen and
servant quarters. My room is 20' X 20'. All ceilings are high, 11', and
also 1/3 of the wall space is windows. The curtain rods are
6' from the floor, which leaves 2' above them so that you can pull the
curtains and still have the windows open. They do not use glass out here
and the window panes are made of 3 inch squares of shell, which is
translucent. Hence the windows are kept open except when the wind blows,
which is does often with sufficient force to break glass.

Upon arrival, I was assigned to Quarters 27, a set of family
quarters, with Capt. Harcourt G. Bull of Pasadena and Lt. George Melvin
Moore of Arcadia. Next day I received my assignment to command I
Battery of the 59th Coast Artillery. Commanding officer of the 59th was
Col. Paul D. Bunker, who had been my unit instructor in Los Angeles
while I was with the 519th. Col. Bunker died in Japan towards the end
of prison life. My executive officer for the battery was 1st Lt.
Stockton D. Bruns.

All newcomers to the Rock were fascinated by the values. I had
several sets of clothing tailored. A complete set of tailor-made khaki
cost $2.75, white uniform $7, tuxedo coat $2.50, tux trousers $6.00,
mess jacket $2.35, sharkskin suit $7.00, and so on. All were excellent
material and beautifully tailored. Due to post regulations which
required all units to be operational on a 24 hour schedule, I was able
to go to Manila only every third weekend. I would arrive at three in the
afternoon and return on the three PM boat Sunday. I usually stayed at
the Manila Hotel on Dewey Blvd. About Thanksgiving day I purchased in
Manila the things I sent home for Xmas, i.e., the carved Burmese heads,
pina tablecloth and luncheon set, linen purses etc. The total cost of
these lovely things was around $50.00 gold. Part of the packages
arrived in Los Angeles in time for Xmas. They all arrived by the end
of March.

In October I moved to another set of quarters which I shared with
Capt. Bill Owen of Fairfield, Iowa. We had a complete set of family
quarters, by number 8 L, and each of us had a houseboy. We also had a
cook for the two of us. The cost of these servants and the food that
was served to us was about $50.00 per month. It was necessary to burn
electric light globes in the closets to prevent mildew. The weather
was very muggy and we changed our clothes three times daily. Coming into
our quarters at noon, we stepped out of our uniforms, which were
picked up by the house boys and laundered. They laid out a fresh set of
clothing while we bathed. They shined our shoes and our brass and kept
everything in tip top shape. The natives were glad to be employed as
servants by the Army personnel and they waited on us to an extent of
service not known in the States.

George did not have a high regard for the ability of the Filipino
help on the Rock. He considered them for the most part not too sharp,
certainly not too aggressive. They spoke English with a sing song accent
which made it difficult to understand, since it did not sound like
English at all. Andy Mac Lang was an exception however. He was the son
of a Scotch marine engineer and a Tagalog woman. Andy was employed by
the battery as a shine boy and he bossed the other boys around to
George's amusement. A boy came running to George once with the complaint
that Andy had kicked him on a part of his anatomy calculated to do
the most good! George received a letter from the Investigating Officer
in charge of claims against the United States Government by previous
employees of the 59th Coast Artillery, dated 7 November, 1945. In part
it says "This organization has been approached by one Andres Mac
Lang, who is making a claim against the government for wages unpaid him
by Battery D, 59th CAC, presumably under your command. Claimant asserts
that he was paid a monthly wage of $45.00 (P 90.00) for fulfilling
duties of a shoe shine boy, working with your organization. He
claims that he was last paid for his services 31 Dec. 1941 and has,
therefore, four months wages due him. He further asserts that he
deposited in the battery safe the sum of P 760.00 If this be true would
you give a certificate to the effect?" George's reply was as
follows:

Nov. 10, 1945

This is to certify to the following:

1. During the period 17 Nov. to 6 May, 1942, I commanded D Battery on
Corregidor.

2. During the above period Andres Mac Lang was employed by the
battery as shoeshine boy.

3. In addition to his own duties Mac Lang acted as boss over the
other Filipinos in the employ of the battery. At my request he organized
them into an ammunition detail and assisted materially in manning the
battery for effective fire on Mariveles Harbor.

4. I recall definitely that he entrusted a considerable sum of
money to me for safekeeping in the battery safe. It is quite likely that
his wages for Jan., Feb., Mar., and April were not paid, but credited
to his account.

5. In view of the above, I consider the claim of Andres Mac Lang for
P360 wages and P760 in the battery safe to be substantially correct to
the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signed George E. Steiger, Major

The diary resumes:

General MacArthur had sent all the women home in May of 1941 but
there was some social life. There were a number of stag parties.
Good native servants were still available who did all the cooking,
cleaning up and so forth. On Sept. 23, the 59th had a party at Capt.
Julians. Sept. 26, there was a reception for incoming officers at the
Corregidor Club.

On 10 Oct., we were scheduled to fire machine guns but the fire was
called off because there was no airplane available! On 14 Oct., we had
dinner and were taken to the cine as guests of Col. Bunker. With me
were Capt. D. D. Edison, Capt. Jesse Punchess and Lt. Verde.

George told me that Col. Bunker made a remark at this dinner to
the effect he would never recommend a reserve officer for promotion. He
reversed his opinion of reserve officers after the war started and
stated that there were good men both from West Point and from the
Reserve and likewise poor officers from both places.

I went to Manila on Oct. 25th with Traw. Went to the Ninatchka [sic]
Russian restaurant and the Alcazar, Santa Ana. Traw and I took a taxi
ride to Quezon village. On 27 Oct., Lt. Bruns and 30 men were sent
to Fort Hughes. On 28 Oct., the 59th had a party at quarters 18L [?]
and on 31 Oct., there was a binge party at the Corregidor Club.

On 8th Nov., I made a tour of Fort Hughes, Fort Drum, Fort Frank,
Ternate [?] Muragodon, Maic, Cavite and the Bayview Hotel. I was with
Capt. Owen and Lt. Rose. We had lunch with Captain White at Fort
Frank.

The following are excerpts from letters received from George on
the trip out and during his first days at Corregidor. They may be
repetitious but I insert them here as there are some comments I hope you
will find interesting.

Aboard the Pierce Aug. 28, 1941

Left the PIer at 12:15. Half way between Golden Gate Bridge and the
ocean, we turned around and put back. I hear the engine has a bearing
out or too tight, some kind of trouble anyway. We have been anchored in
the bay about halfway between Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz all
afternoon. A tug brought several mechanics aboard and they have been
repairing our engine. At 8 PM the engines were started and we made two
circles of the bay to test them out. Went under the GG Bridge at 9 PM.
We dropped the pilot a 9:40. The pilot boat sent over a small row boat
which bobbed about like a chip. The pilot went down the side on a rope
ladder and took quite a jump to get into the row boat. By 10 PM the
lights of Frisco were just a faint glow in the distance.

Sunday. The days out here are so identical that is was not until
after dinner last evening that I remembered it was Saturday. Bill
Stecker and I had a couple of drinks and sat around in my room and
discussed what was wrong with the Army. Went to bed at midnight. Being
up late, I skipped breakfast. ...eat dinner yet-hamburger steak or short
ribs. Oh well, I fooled him by saying nothing! One of the Captains at my
table sent his hamburger back only to get cold roast beef instead. They
have 3 settings for all meals. Being a Captain, I have rank enough to
eat at the lst setting. There are only 2 officers above the rank of Capt.
on this ship. We have no duties and can wear anything we wish, which
makes it pretty nice. The ship rolls a bit but the weather is cool,
sometimes a little cloudy but mostly clear. Everyone is hoping for a
storm (but not too big) to vary the monotony. Horseshoes (rubber),
shuffleboard and ping pong are available but I am going to rest and
read.

Sept. 9 Nothing much goes on. It rained pretty hard nearly all day
yesterday. The weather is warm but not at all bad. We travel
"blacked-out"-no lights from sundown until sunup. It makes the
nights seem pretty long. We go to bed about 7 PM, lie around and talk
until 9 or 10, then go to sleep.

Sept. 14 Had had a considerable storm for 24 hours. It rained as I
have never seen it rain before. The wind attained an estimated speed of
70 miles per hour, which is just under a hurricane. The waves were high
and the boat rocked. I felt not too good but did not get seasick. Spent
most of the day on deck watching the wind and waves and the ship bob
about, also the cruiser. I learned later that the cruiser had a
speed indicator and the wind speed was 75 miles per hour.

Sept. 26. The taxi situation is interesting. Cabs outnumber private
autos 2 to 1. They drive on the left side of the street and the steering
wheel is on the right. Their driving is atrocious and they toot their
horns incessantly. You can ride anywhere around Manila for 15 or 20
cents. If a person was inclined to have a big shot complex, this country
would certainly foster it! Next below the taxis come a lot of Austins,
with the back cut out so that you can step right in and sit down on a
board seat. They carry 4 fares and are a high class native taxi. After
that come the horse cabs, about a million of them. Every time I see
them I think about Dad and the small deer at Sequoia. He should see
these horses! they are about the size of those Sequoia deer! They have
high wheeled cabs and the horses are only about 3 1/2 feet high. They
look ridiculous!

[End of Letter Excerpts]

On 17 Nov. I was relieved of command of I Battery. It was put under
command of Lt. Bruns and moved to Fort Hughes. I was assigned to command
D Battery. The armament consisted of 2 twelve inch disappearing guns
permanently emplaced in 1910, guns shooting out over the sea. On 28 Nov.
I was sitting in a movie when an orderly came in and announced there
would be an officers call for the 59th immediately. We were told that a
large convoy of Japanese vessels was heading south in the North China
Sea and that we would move to the gun emplacements in the morning. So
we were alerted and in the field a week before Pearl Harbor!

We were not on an immediate alert, however, but we were in a position
to meet any enemy attack without long range warning. We stayed in this
condition, know as "Alert Charley" until Sat. 6 December. This
happened to be my weekend in Manila. I stayed at the Great Eastern
Hotel and had a fairly pleasant weekend. A juke box favorite of the day
was "Beat Me Daddy With a Solid Four". I saw "Blood and
Sand" starring Rita Hayworth. Returned to the Rock on the usual 3
PM boat.

My Executive Officer, Lt. Aikran [?], and I were sleeping outside
the battery in a tent. At this time, my battery as well as the others
were maintaining a 24 hr. watch of not less than two men. About 2:30 AM
on Monday 8 December (7 Dec. in the States) this watch came to my tent
and told me Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Remembering the Panay
incident, I said, "Oh hell, some stupid Nip has taken off with a
light aircraft out of a rice paddy and created a disturbance!"
Whereupon, I went back to sleep. Later in prison camp, I met a young
enlisted man who had been on duty at the wireless station in the
Philippines when the news of the attack came in. He said that the
Pearl Harbor operator had kept repeating: "Air raid-no drill! Air
raid-no drill!"

When I awakened next morning our small receiving set was bouncing
with the details of the Pearl Harbor attack. But apparently, after the
initial announcement, very little was said. I could never see then or
later how Japan could hope to win a war against us. Their methods of
transportation and cultivation and their manufacturing potential were
so low that all they could hope to do was store up material with which
to hit us. We sold them the necessary items with which to build up their
war machine but they had no sustaining power. So I was still
incredulous!!! Around ten o'clock in the morning, we observed over
Manila, 30 miles away, a full-scale and unopposed air attack on the
Naval Air Base at Cavite. After which a formation of Nip bombers flew
arrogantly by the Rock just out of range of our guns. When I saw the
rising sun of Japan on those bombers and realized how little we had to
oppose them, I knew a war had begun.

On 19 December, I sent a radiogram to my wife saying, "Am
okay!" On 12 December we were issued service gas masks which we never
had occasion to use but whose plastic containers proved very useful later on.
On 13 December, 27 bombers approached Fort Hughes. This was evidently a
feint because the formation split and [we] sustained no damage. Cavite was wiped
out and the survivors came in Malinta tunnel on the Rock late that night.
On 14 December, 17 bombers passed over Fort Frank, very high. On 15 December,
18 bombers were over Manila, visible to us but not very close.

About this time, the troops went on field rations. Capt. Owen instructed
the houseboys at the quarters to keep the bath tubs filled with water in
case of fire. We later bathed in these tubs of water for two weeks, until
the water became very insanitary, indeed!

The Army and the Filipino skippers had long been butting heads. All the
channels out of Manila Bay had been mined for many months. At this time,
the mining was strictly up to date and operational. At 1 AM on 16 December,
the SS Corregidor, carrying 760 refugees, attempted to go thru the mine
field without asking clearance. This request would have been granted. The
Lieutenant who was on watch in the mine casement, on sighting the SS
Corregidor called his superior, who in turn, called the seaward defence
commander, Col. Bunker, requesting information as to whether he should
de-activate the contact mines in the channel. With a lifetime of experience
with the Filipino, going back to the '98 Insurrection, Col. Bunker said
"No!" My first knowledge of this affair came when my duty watch called me
at 12:55 AM. The Corregidor had struck one of our mines and in the four or
five minutes it took to reach my battery command post, the vessel had sunk.
Approximately 500 lives were lost. The 260 or so who survived came on the
Rock. Thereafter, we had no trouble with unauthorized
Filipino boats attempting to traverse the channel.

The following is an e-mail sent to Frank Steiger September 30, 2005 by Kerwin M. Ronquillo providing further background information regarding the above incident:

Hello Frank,
I lost family members in the SS Corregidor. The 760 so called refugees were
actually-mostly college students attending schools in Manila, colleges like
Ateneo, La Salle, Santo Tomas, San Juan de Letran, Assumption, St. Pauls, St.
Josephs, UP (University of the Philippines), etc.
Usually, students would come home for Christmas vacation, given it was December
and Christmas was just week ahead. This is a regular event even up to now 65
yrs. later. Students study in Manila and come home to the other regions of the
country for the Christmas Holidays. Also due to the fact that Pearl Harbor was
attacked a week before, many parents of these college students told their
children to come home. We lost 3 relatives, two young women in their college
years and their uncle, who was sent to bring them back home.
If there was anybody at fault, it would be the captain of the ship who left the
dock near Pasig River in Manila ahead of schedule. It was to leave the port with
a ship escort to guide it through the mine grid. It left without an escort. It
is said that he, the captain was worried about getting bombed by japanese
airplanes so he left early. We really don't know the exact reason but his
decision to leave without waiting for an escort cost several hundred young
innocent lives.
Thanks for sharing your uncle's diary. I love reading history and enjoy personal
accounts of what happened during the years of WWII in the Philippines.

On the 19th of December, 15 bombers went out over Fort Drum from Manila.
On 22 December, the Cabcaben air raid occurred, during which it was reported
(from now on you could hear any number of rumors) the Japs used concrete
bombs and cast iron bullets. Eighty Jap transports were reported off
Lingayen.

Life went on in the Battery. On 17 December, I wrote Ottly a letter
which she received in March. On 18 December, I had a full chest x-ray in
an attempt to diagnose a psychological dyspace [?], which was of long
standing ailment. Why I'll never know, since certainly nothing could
have been done about it if the report had been positive! I changed my
allotment from $150 to $210. I read "Orphans of the Storm" by Florence
Horn [?] and noted in my diary that Ottly should read it. We heard on
23 December that Hitler had relieved his top generals and was taking over
the command himself. There had been heavy reverses in Russia and Lybia.

On 24 December, 5 bombers came over the Rock at 1 PM. Eight bombers
bombed the French steamer Si-kiang at Mariveles at 3 PM. The 1st battalion
of the 31st Infantry arrived on the Rock from Manila where they had been
fighting. U. S. Armed Forces in the Far East and the Philippine Dept. moved
into Malinta Tunnel. Smoke and fire were plainly visible from Manila at
11:30 PM.

Xmas Day, 25 December; the troops had a good turkey dinner and 2 bottles
of beer per man. Hong Kong surrendered. The war was going from bad to worse!
By 27 December there was plenty of rank in Malinta Tunnel! On 28 December,
the President asked for a complete report of the situation.

In the battery, we heard the rumor that a convey 100 miles long was on
the way. We just couldn't believe that the United States could be in the
situation to permit the Japs to go on as they were. I gave Chaplain
Cleveland $5 to send a radiogram to my wife instructing her to buy a new
Chevy since we knew that civilian goods would become scarce as the U. S.
manufacturing turned to war goods. We heard another rumor that two divisions
of American troops had landed in North Luzon.

On 28 December, Tojo's bombers visited the Rock for the first time. The
raid lasted from 12 noon to 3 PM. There were 30 casualties on the Rock.
The water, phones and power were knocked out. My tent was destroyed. (Note
a small shell fragment in my diary and the resulting powder burn there.)
Lt. Keen of the Marines and 25 men plus 4 air-cooled anti-aircraft guns
were attached to (?). (this word in the manuscript was illegible)
We moved our clothes from the quarters to the battery. On 31 December,
an anti-aircraft battery of the 60th Coast Artillery was in position in
my immediate vicinity. It was commanded by Capt. Robert Glassburn. He was
a regular Army officer, as had been his father before him. On this night,
we gathered in his tent and had a coke and bourbon. This was to be our
last drink for a long time. I went to bed early and slept well.

1942

January 1, 1942; had a shave and a clean uniform. One Jap observation
plane over Kindley Field on the Rock at 8 AM. Good turkey dinner at 5 PM.
Living at Battery Cheney, Fort Mills, now. "D" battery mans Cheney.

January 2; Slight rain in the morning and low clouds all day. Second
raid, a surprise raid, at 1:50 but on a small scale. Alert all afternoon.
Titus got shrap in the shins.

January 3; Raid number 3 at 12:52. Hit on no. 5 machine gun but no
casualties. Three enemy planes downed. Two waves of bombers over Cheney.
Glassburn's tent was knocked out.

January 4th; Raid number 4. Bombs over Cheney at 1:30. Had a bath in
the week old water at the quarters - pretty dirty. By now any sense of
accountability was long gone. A detachment of Marines were in possession
of a brand new 3/4 ton truck which they had no doubt "liberated" from
its owner in Manila. During an air raid they abandoned it and one of my
corporals (Hall) "borrowed" it for the duration. It served us well. Was
shot out from under us several times and finally died a hero's death.
Of this more later.

January 5th; Raid number 5. Planes near at 7:30 AM, which is the
earliest yet. I moved secret documents from the barracks to the battery.
Lt. Aikman went to Malinta Tunnel in a jeep for the enlisted men's pay.
I went to Malinta Tunnel for $119 cash and increased allotment to
$248.10

January 6; Air raid number 6. Lasted from 1 to 4 PM. Water not too
plentiful. Hit at Battery Geary kitchen and 26 men were killed. General
Wavell commands the Far East Forces including USAFFE!

January 7th. No aerial activity. Jap airplane carrier 40,000 yards out
just opposite Mariveles at 6 PM. The insolent SOBs, just out of range!
I took last bath in water at 8L which has been in tub since December 26 -
stinks!

January 8th. No air. USAFFE (?) says "BIG PUSH IN MAKING." Our lines
at north end of Bataan peninsula. No water in which to bathe or laundry.
I have Lino [houseboy] iron uniform each day.

January 9th. Wrote to Ottly. Major Edison estimates six months for
American Expeditionary Force. Artillery fire plainly audible from Bataan.
No Jap air. FDR would send one million ships and thousands of men if he had
them!

January 10th. No air activity. Took bath in one quart if water and
changed clothes. Barge load of pistols and shotguns arrived bottomside
from the mainland. We got ten shotguns and also some dried fruit.

January 11th. One Jap observation plane running lights on, very low,
sighted over the Rock at 6:30 AM in an attempt to draw fire and learn
the exact position of our guns. We did not fire. Several air alarms but
no bombs.

January 12th. No air activity. Went to Middle Sector with Capt. Schenck
regarding beach defense. To Kindly Field for powder cans and water as our
supply of water has been knocked out, almost from the first raid. [All coast
artillery guns of that period had powder charges contained in sheet metal
vessels of 10 to 12 inches in diameter and 5 to 6 feet in length with
pressure sealed lids. These made ideal containers for almost anything.]

January 13th. Taking our truck, we went to Bottomside for water. After
filling a truck with a load of powder cans at the basic source, we started
home. I decided to stop by the quarters of Bill Stecker who was stationed
there. I stopped the truck by the quarters and started up the walk. I was
challenged by a sentry. I identified myself and said that I was calling on
Lt. Stecker. Just at this moment, General and Mrs. MacArthur came around
the building. The General told us that Lt. Stecker was in the field and that
he was occupying the quarters. He was very pleasant to me. This is the only
time I every saw General MacArthur.

January 14th. This was the coldest morning since I had been in the
Philippines. Fort Drum fired ten rounds on a Jap ship in Manila Bay at
3 PM. They had authority for only 10 rounds and while waiting authority
for more, the ship got away. Raid no. 7 occurred from 12:30 to 2:30.
We got three out of nine bombers. They dropped two out of three sticks
in the ocean. Their bombing heretofore has been painfully accurate.

There was some air but no bombs. Fuse (?) 30, mechanical, not
powder-train, is good if you have it. (We don't). Rumor has it that
Hawaiian forces are being reinforced and bravely await another attack.

January 16. Much air activity but no bombs. Order "anti-aircraft will
not fire on observation planes because it disturbs the nerves of the people
in Malinta Tunnel." Heavy artillery fire on Bataan at night. General
MacArthur's official message "Help will come."

January 17. I wrote to Ottly in the evening. Went to Middle Sector
command post with Lt. Keen to mail letters and take shower. Inspection
in ranks and quarters from 8 to 10 AM. Titus, Martin, Blackburn and
Martelle [Harold Martelle of Bentom Harbor, Michigan] volunteered for
Bataan and were refused. Heavy air and artillery over Bataan. Got 100
books from the post library.

January 18. Sky overcast - misty rain. No Jap airplanes over Corregidor.
It is reported we go on two meals a day. Wish I was in L. A.

January 19. Soup, bread and jam for dinner. Three meals a day for awhile
yet. No air alarm but one 2 motor bomber escort seen passing over China Sea
at 1 PM. No air alarm on Rock. Bataan quiet. We listen to radio KGEI
Fairmont (Frisco) daily.

January 21. James' birthday. Quiet. Col. Bunker and Majors Edison and
Simonds came to dinner. Simonds is my artillery group commander and is a
graduate of the Naval Academy. [Crossing services was at this time
seldom done.] Edison is a graduate of West Point and is my battalion
commander. Col. Bunker is Commander of the Seaward Defences. In spite of
my being a very green reserve officer, these men have supported me at all
times to the fullest extent and in a friendly manner.

January 22. Diaries are to be turned in every 30 days. I shall
discontinue this book.

January 23. Philippine sunsets and cloud effects are the most beautiful
I have ever seen. I sit on the parapet and watch the sunset every evening.
[Note how George's observations of the weather and the outdoors are a
part of his being. He used to open the door when it was raining and stand
for a long time watching it. He would tell me how he had watched the sunsets
in the Philippines and about the rain on the roofs of the prison camps he
was in. In his last years he would stand in the open door and cry when he
watched the rain. it always touched me deeply.]

Copied at Kentzuji on January 1, 1944 from a true copy in possession
of Kenneth L. Boggs, Capt. 60th CA (AA):

Hq. USAEF, 15 Jan. 1942

Fort Mills, P.I.

Subject - Message from General MacArthur

To: All Unit Commanders.

1. The following message from Gen. MacArthur will be read and
explained to you.

2. Help is on the way from U. S. Thousands of troops and hundreds of
planes are being dispatched. The exact date of arrival of reinforcements
is unknown, as they will have to fight their way thru Japanese attempts
against them. It is imperative that our troops hold out until these
reinforcements arrive.

3. No further retreat is possible. We have more troops in Bataan than
the Japs have thrown against us. Our supplies are ample. A determined
defense will defeat this enemy's attack.

4. It is a question now of courage and of determination. Men who run
away will surely be destroyed, but men who fight will save themselves
and country.

5. I call on every soldier in Bataan to fight in his assigned position,
resisting every attack. This is the only road to salvation. If we fight
we will win, if we retreat we will be destroyed.

MacArthur

January 25. We eat cracked wheat "from American Red Cross to the people
of China." Very good!

January 27. Lt. Col. Porter, now chemical warfare officer, commanded
"D" Battery of the 59th in the last war. It was 155's Howitzers.

February 6. The Japs opened fire with two 105's from Ternato. First
shell fire against the Rock.

February 21. Corregidor theme song "I'm Waiting for Ships That Never
Come In." Thirty-four men are killed in Fort Frank tunnel by a ricochet
which the Nips got into the tunnel.

March 12. Bill Owen wanted me to go to Bataan with him so we took
the necessary shots. He made the arrangements. Completely equipped with
gas masks, pistols and so forth, we left the Rock about 10 AM. Small
boats are still going back and forth. We landed at Caboaben and proceeded
by scout car to the outpost line of resistance. We met several officers
we had known coming out on the Pierce. Some survived the operation. We
looked out into enemy territory but saw no one. We rationed and stayed
overnight with a 155 battery commanded by an officer we knew from the
Pierce, Capt. Coleman. The ration issued was absolutely inadequate.

March 13. Visited the provisional infantry regiment created from air
force troops who had lost their aircraft. Regardless of a man's technical
ability he should be required to take the normal thirteen week
training in basic infantry and it should be called to his attention
periodically that the time may come when he will be forced to fight on
the ground simply for his own survival. Home at 10 PM. Song heard on
Bataan:

We are the battling bastards of Bataan,

No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam,

No aunts, no uncles, no cousins or nieces,

No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces,

AND NOBODY GIVES A DAMN!

March 14. MacArthur left for Australia

March 15. I was on duty as field officer of the day in the seaward
defense command post.

March 24. Air raids resumed. From the battery we could see our barracks.
Since we evacuated them, the Army engineers have stored five tons of TNT
therein. On this day we had a normal raid with what sounded like a good
hit topside. After the raid was over and we came out to look around,
someone said, "Captain, they've blown up our barracks." I got out a
telescope and looked Topside. I saw what was obviously a kitchen and
said, "Oh, they've just blown off the side of the barracks." Then
someone else said, "But Captain, that is not our kitchen!" The kitchen
I saw was B Battery's kitchen! Which meant that our entire barracks,
quarters for 200 men, had been obliterated!

March 25. Japs try night bombing.

March 26. Evidently new Jap bomber squadrons are being brought into
this area. They start at 20,000 feet but in about three days, those
still in the running are up to 27 or 28,000 feet!"

March 28. Major Glassburn logged 265 planes over the Rock in 24 hours.

March 29. Sunday. Played good records on Corporal Bell's phono for
2 hours.

March 30. Just about sundown three Nip bombers evidently in recon came
in low. We got one on the incoming run. He hit water on North Channel in
plain sight. Another sustained a bad hit and very obviously hit water in
Manilla Bay. The third was seen smoking and losing altitude. I later heard
rumors that the Nip radio was really jumping that night! In any event, it
showed me that had we had reasonably up-to-date weapons, we would
certainly have given the enemy a very rough time.

April 8. Big ammunition dump afire at Marivales. Took one of my
Lts. [Bruce Nixon] to the tunnel in an uncontrollable and violent
state of combat fatigue at 10 PM. Earthquake at 12 PM.

April 9. Ottly's birthday. Wrote letter to her. Bataan folded. At
about 3 PM. the Japs opened artillery fire on the Rock from Bataan.

April 15. We listen to KREI each night. The platitudinous nothings
mouthed by the commentators about "China's brave fight" make me sick.
Why in the hell, didn't we give them the help five years ago that they
need to fight the Japs instead of selling Japan all the materials she
wanted with which to fight China?

April 19. We had considerable amount of antiquated armament on
the Rock and contrary to public opinion, we also had some very capable
if not brilliant officers. An ordinance Captain attempted to fire 12
inch coast artillery mortars from Battery Geary in an anti-aircraft
role. The attempt was unsuccessful because of the inherent
characteristics of the guns but I chuckle to think what an uproar it
might have created in Tokyo if it had succeeded?

May 2. Battery Geary sustained a direct hit and was blown up. One
of the gun barrels weighing fifty tons was lifted 100 feet and drifted
laterally about 200 feet to the middle of the golf course Topside. Of
one hundred men only seven survived. The shock could be felt at my battery
which is half way around the Rock. Corregidor is now the "most bombed
area on earth" according to KGEI!

May 5. A Jap battery on Bataan fired all afternoon. I finally got a
fire mission and was able to reply with fifty rounds during the early
evening. One of my men was killed during the encounter, Pfc. Cavo.
Enemy fire stopped about 6 PM. I was later told in prison camp that
the Nip battery had been knocked out. Told by American troops who were
still in Bataan but, of course, I have no proof. My battery ceased fire
at 6 PM. At 8 PM, I received a phone call from regimental headquarters
informing me that Nips had landed Bottomside. No immediate action was
desired but I was told to be ready to move out as an infantry company
on notice to defend the beach. A succession of these messages, found me
moving out at 11 PM as an infantry company under Major Glassburn.

May 6. We moved from Topside to Middleside and spent four hours in
Middleside Tunnel. At daylight we moved to Malinta Tunnel. Bob
Glassburn's battery was ahead of me and it sustained five or six
casualties just before daylight. Corregidor surrendered at noon.
We were still in the Tunnel.

May 7. Took shower and got bag of gear. Dewey, Glassburn, Bryan,
Lt. Dewey, Hamilton, Aikman, Eddington and I spend the night in
Artillery Engineers Lateral. Plenty of food.

May 8. Left Malinta tunnel 10 AM on Nip order and hiked to 92nd
Garage. Very hot - no water.

May 9, Saturday. Dick Pulnar [?], Guerney Smith and I are on space
of one blanket at 92nd Garage.

May 10. Takes one to six hours for water from a half inch pipe
for 10,000 men.

May 11. "Guam blisters," a form of sunburn, prevalent.

May 12. Five hundred Filipinos dying daily at O'Donnell. A burial
detail of 2,000 men ordered.

May 13. On work detail in Barrio (village at Bottomside) for Nip
engineer, Lt. Shuay Miyabe.

May 14. Four details gathering all types salvage from all parts
of Rock. I have 5th detail sorting and classifying and storing.
Lt. Miyabe bosses from my detail. We converse and I find him very
intelligent. He speaks no English but understands it well. He answers
my by drawing little pictures. This he can do with great speed and skill.
He hits the point with very little effort. I asked him when he expects
to go back to Japan and he draws a picture of a ship with torpedo from a
submarine coming at it. So he doubts that he can be sure of getting home
at all!

May 15. Other details loading food and small arms on boats at
South Dock. Captain Covington of Quartermasters Corps says Corregidor
had enough food to last at half rations until July 4th.

May 16. Major Pysick, U. S. Marine Corps, is the Nip interpreter.

May 22. Laid off detail after 9 days. Rain from 9 to 2 AM.

May 23. Leave 92 garage at 10 AM to board Jap freighter at South
Dock. Had two cans of milk on the pier. Boarded the Hokku Maru at
4 PM. Sitting in the small boat going out to the ship, I saw a Jap
guard coming and took my pen out of my pocket to hide it under a blanket.
He saw the movement and got my pen.

May 24. Left Corregidor at 6 AM. Landed outside Manila 30 feet
off shore. Had to wade to shore and all got quite wet. We were marched
5 to 6 miles through Manila up Dewey Blvd. This was to show the Filipinos
our disgrace. We were dirty, poorly dressed, almost all had dysentery
and were forced to stop and relieve ourselves on the roadside-motley
mess! The Filipino women were crying, many held their index and middle
fingers in the sign of a V before their faces. They showered us with
food but we were not allowed to pick it up. Our destination was
Bilibid prison where we arrived a 3 PM.

May 31. No water at this camp so will have to move. Two shifts
of guards.

June 1. Moved to Camp #1, which is six kilometers nearer to the
town of Cabanatuan.

June 2. All Captains are together in a church which is the worst
bldg in Camp.

June 3. Chow is white rice with a very thin soup. No bathing or
laundry.

June 4. Bataan troops from O'Donnel arriving daily. They are in
very poor shape.

June 5. Ankles swollen from lack of protein. Cut Stecker's hair.
Japs called for volunteers to help on Corregidor. I had no intention
of helping them with anything, but someone pushed me from the rear
while we were standing on the call and I had to shuffle to keep from
falling. The guard grabbed me!

June 6. Left Cabanatuan at 3 PM. We got lost and hiked in the rain
in Manila. Ate pork at a road crossing and some rice in Manila.

June 7. Arrived on the Rock a 1 PM. Topside for beds. Bread and
jam for breakfast. Lt. Shuey Mayabe saw me!

June 8. Questioning at Engineering level. Fred Rose and I have
good beds in Kitchen.

June 9. Under questioning all day. Jap's bldg burned down at night.
Rations from cold stores.

June 10. Lt. Mayabe gave me a truck and told me to select men to
help me. We are to pick up ammo and count it. I recovered this book
(diary) and Ottly's letters also $300 that I had hidden in my battery
when the war ended [Corregidor surrender].

June 11. I chose Huff, Houck and Miller on ammo detail. Japanese
have Filipinos at Treasury.

It is my opinion that George chose these three men because
they would have knowledge of where stores of drugs, money, etc.
might be hidden. I will find out what their position had been before
their surrender and include this in my next copy.

June 12. Found silver at Smith. Swollen ankles better but not all
well.

June 13. Counted ammo in Malinta Tunnel. Bob White very thin.
No help for my hemorrhoids.

June 14. Finish Malinta job and gab with Mayabe all AM. Milk at
Crockett PM.

July 1. Much food in AM. Left hospital 3 PM. Boarded Jap freighter
Lima Maru Tokyo. Was not searched! Had licorice, quinine and much
stuff picked up around Rock. Also have my money left at the battery.

July 14. Inspected by Jap general in AM. 500 feet to latrine.
Shower at water tank in PM.

July 15. Tentative organization submitted to Japs. I command 3 barracks.
As I have some money, I can buy some things on the black market at thieve's
market prices: sugar $2 per canteen cup, corned beef and pork and beans $5
to $7, 6 pound can of same $30. [The Ottly Steiger typed copy indicates currency as a P overstruck with a slash. This may indicate Philippine (?) dollars (?). In this web page that symbol is replaced with a dollar sign $.]

July 16. "Snafu in '42 but we'll be free in '43, or still at war in
'44?"

July 17. Moved to bldg 64. I command 3 bldgs whose junior officers are
Lts. Vetesnick, Carusso and Cadmus. Vestesnik, Erhardt, and I live in #l64.
Rain all day. Rainy season finally off to a late start.

July 18. Dick Fulmer put plexi-crystal in my watch. I resume wearing
it on my wrist. (Previously had it taped to inside of leg.) Bought 5th of
Scotch for $6. Rain, slept under sheet, blanket and poncho. Quite cold.
Many men have no bedding.

July 19. Read Ottly's letters. Sending men out to work in this cold
and heavy rain, without clothes equals murder.

July 21. Up at 4:30 AM on account Bango to locate 2 men "over the
hill." Breakfast at 10 AM. The sun shone. Men constantly try to escape.
Colonel Biggs was beheaded at Camp #3 and the two men who escaped with
him were shot. Colonel Biggs was [with] 92nd CA Philippine Scouts.

July 24. Major Dewey died at 3 PM. Bill Owen had "cerebral malaria"
case. I have mild diarrhea since June 20 - very little pain so far.

July 25. American ships enroute to take us to Ecuador! Any rumor
about going home is eagerly spread. A wishful-thinking bunch of weaklings!
If all those rumors had been true, we'd have been home in '42!

July 26. Read Ottly's letters. Have no "Sunday afternoon blues" since
the war started. Everything seems remote and dream like.

July 27. I sleep in 2 piece suit of long-handled underwear obtained
on last trip to Rock. Okay for cold nights.

July 28. About 100 men arrived from "outside" details. Does this
apparent assembling mean anything? Evidently it did! They were sent
to Japan.

July 29. A fair cross section of available foods and prices of same
which are available on the black market if you have money.
Commissary milk $1.10. Corned beef $1.20. Pork and Beans $1.15.
Sardines $0.80. Soy Sauce $0.35.

July 30. One year ago I drew detail for P. I. Now at Cabanatuan
Camp #1. Health okay, morale same. Weather rainy, ground sloppy.
Visit the latrine 5 to 7 times daily. Now I have body lice!

1. I desire to express my appreciation of your fine work as Company
Commander in this group from its organization on July 17, 1942 to its
end on October 28, 1942.

2. The care of upwards of three hundred men, most of them sick and
discouraged by defeat and the circumstances of prison life, called for
a high order of leadership and devotion to duty, both of which you
demonstrated in your work. Your willing acceptance of your responsibilities
at a time when the easier course would have been to forget them reflects
great credit upon you.

3. A copy of this letter will be filed at American Prisoners
Headquarters to be inserted in your official records.

FREDERICK G. SAINT

Lieut-Colonel, 14th Engrs.

Commanding, Group III

August 22. My birthday, the 38th! Mango in AM. Bath and clean clothes.
Corned beef, chile peppers make a good dinner. Rolls with butter and jam
at 2 PM. Plenty to eat today, feeling fine. Everything okay! Read Ottly's
letters for my birthday present. Wish I was in LA with her!

August 24. Brief inspection by Col Rutherford and Japs 12 noon. Head
shaved-no results. I am growing callouses on my stern from sleeping on
bamboo slats.

August 26. Shouts of Fili-Jap recruits at bayonet drill are annoying!

August 27. Lts. Erhardt, Smith, Fulmer and Richards to dinner. One
can corned beef, one chili, one tomato with rice and peppers and garlic.
Peaches and cream with tea.

November 3. Dick Fulmer, Jim Richards and I had 18 eggs and 10 sausages
for breakfast.

November 4. To hospital for tooth inlay - cement and shirt and
blanket!"

November 5. Leave Camp #1 at 4 AM, Cabanatuan 6:45 to 9, Arrive
Manila 4:10 PM, Pier #7 at 6 PM. Much food on train. I bought a raw
egg at train stop - thought it was hard boiled until I went to eat it!"

November 6. Slept well. Boarded Nagato Maru at 5 PM. Talked to Boggs
until midnight. Hot and crowded below deck. 1500 men aboard, almost all
have dysentery. Sanitary facilities consist of 3 toilets. A line is always
formed.

November 14. Deck all day. Below at 11 because of the cold. Capt.
Nellhatch Dr.

November 15. Under way 9 AM. Dropped hook 5:30 PM. Anchored in lee
of small island 50 miles north of Takao. 40 mile wind. Deck guard until
5 AM.

November 17. Pulled deck watch 2 to 5 AM.

November 18. Under way 4 PM - stormy.

November 19. Below all day. Rougher in PM. Jap sub and gunnery drill.

November 21. Tongue and roof of mouth very sore.

November 24. Dropped hook 8:30 AM. Dry run for medical 6 to 7:30 PM.

November 25. Under way 9 AM. Moji Pier at noon. "Glass Goose" medical
and ashore at 6 PM. Box supper in gym. Taken by ferry to Simonoseki,
train noon.

Of the 1500 men aboard 200 could not walk off the ship. Eighty died
right away. The rest went to the hospital. Regarding his friend, Francis
Gurney smith, 2nd Lt., 91st CA. Philippine Scouts, George wrote the
following account:

On 25 November, 1942, we arrived at Moji, Japan. We docked and were
examined for dysentery and were supposed to have been deloused. Gurney
had been very sick on the boat from pellagra, scurvy and diarrhea. From
the dock we marched, or rather ran, to the railway station. This was very
hard on Gurney, weakened as he was by the boat trip, as were many. We
carried some of their scant luggage. Our group consisted of about 370
men and 38 officers. After we reached the station, we had to wait an
hour for the train. It was very cold. We rode the train all night. We
reached a certain town and were rushed aboard a ferry. Finally, we
reached Osaka and were taken to Yogoawa Steel Works. We spent 3 to 4
hours out on a coal pile listening to a speech about Japan, etc. It was
very, very cold. Then we were taught a few words of Japanese and given
Japanese Army drill. This all happened on Thanksgiving Day, 26 November,
1942, on coal pile near the ocean on a very cold day. Coming from the
Philippine Islands, the weather was unbearable to us. We had been issued
Army fatigue uniforms, which were too small to cover us. We were all lousy
from the 19 days on the Nagato Maru. Although I was in poor condition,
I felt sorry for Gurney and many of the others who were even worse off.

About 8 o'clock that night we were shown to our quarters, in a tin
barrel factory with more holes in it than in a sieve. About 10 PM we were
given a bowl of rice and a bowl of "all clear" cabbage soup. We were
issued 4 very thin cotton blankets per man. I talked with Gurney quite
often and I know that he was getting worse. He could hardly walk now
because of the rawness of his testicles. His throat was very bad and
he could hardly eat. From early morning until late at night we were
drilled, exercised, taught Japanese, etc. Gurney was unable to do this.
Several times the guard would rush in early in the morning and kick some
who were unable to rise. Gurney received several of these kicks. On
2 December at about 7 PM, I helped Gurney to the benjo. I knew then that
he would not last much longer. I told the commanding officer that something
must be done. Nothing was done, however, because no medicine was available.
Gurney gave his ring to 2nd Lt. Shelby Cullison, 60th CA to be given to his
mother. Gurney fought very hard to live that night. About every hour he
would ask the time. He died about 3:15 AM 3 December 1942.

Lt. Cullison was sent later to civilian hospital in Osaka, where he died.
I do not know to whom he entrusted the ring.

November 26. Thanksgiving Day. Arrived in Osaka at 4 PM. Can of C
type beans for dinner. All very lousy - I mean lice!

November 27. To railroad freight sheds in AM for reception ceremony.
Capts. and 2nd Lts. move together. Jim and I sleep together in a shelter
half with 14 blankets, a poncho and a mosquito bar, a stack as high as
Jim's head when he is sitting.

November 28. Sun shone and it was warmer in the AM. Jap clothing issue.
Lecture on the virtue of hard work by Nip Lt. in PM. Col. Murata, Osaka
District Commanding Officer and Lt. Yamad is the Camp Commanding Officer.
There are timeless taxis in a shed at rear of our quarters.

November 29. 458 men comprise our group. Calisthenics, laundry and
bath in PM.

November 30. Formation in the street at noon chow to see body of
Hawaiian depart. First casualty in our group. Formation 8 to 10:30 PM
to verify name and rank.

December 18. Five man detail to Katamachi. Captain Wray "corrected" for quanning.
[Quan is a Filipino word corresponding in meaning to our "thingamajig."
The Filipino language is limited and quan is used for many items without
a specific name. The POW's used it for any concoction of foodstuffs.]
I bought puffed rice for 10 sen.

December 19. Funeral formation and police in alley in AM. Enlisted men
get three finger rolls and....Double eime [sic] for levee for calisthenics on
D.O.

[The Japanese gave the officers a long song and dance about a
shortage of help due to their holidays and begged the officers to work
just for a short emergency. The officers were thus talked into
"volunteering" to help for a short time. They had previously resisted
working because they felt it was their duty not to co-operate with
their captors. It would have been easier for them to co-operate and
so receive better rations as the enlisted men did. In the final
analysis, the Japanese discontinued trying to make the officers work
and sent them to Zentsuji Camp because the officers were a bad
influence on the enlisted men, encouraging them to resist work, and
sabotage whenever they could. Thus the Japanese came to feel that
the officers were more trouble than good for the work program.]

December 29. Weight 170 with clothes on. Jim and I did dishes.
First officer work detail to Umeda Bunsho. Overcoats issued.

December 30. Coal shoveling at Mahati. Hot Klim and sugar with
hardtack when we got home.

December 31. Shoveled coal from ground into box cars. Filled out "impression" sheet. Three tangerines issued also box lunch at work.

1943

January 20. Jim Richards abed with flu and diarrhea. I with hiccoughs.

January 21. Still hiccuping and no appetite.

January 22. Bath. Still poorly.

January 23. Appetite okay and feel better. hiccoughs stopped.
To crematory with bodies.

January 27. Laid off work. Tai-so twice. I have scally scrotum,
penis ringworm and itch all over.

January 28. Shovel sand. Jim worked first day in several.
Small rice issue for lunch.

January 29. Charcoal cut for 2 days because of our quanning.
Very cold weather without fire - no good. Inspection by outside
officer during bath. Enlisted man from section 1 caught stealing.

January 30. Hauled cinder sand and piled ties.

February 1. Tai-so in alley AM. Walk to Todagawa PM. Snow flurries.
"Walking Dead" enlisted men routed out in PM and sent to work.
Col G. L. Fields died.

February 2. Hauled cinders at Senmam. Dr. Nell diagnosed my itch
as scabies and prescribed sulfur. Made it itch worse to the point
of pain! Weigh 165.

February 3. Rain all night and until 6 AM. Tai-so AM & PM.

February 4. Shoveled heavy ore and loaded lumber on barges at
Umeda. Big inspection at camp. Jim still sick with crotch sores.
Roy abed with fever in evening.

February 5. Doped Jim's sores with sulfa-thianide. They seem
better. Cold bath and good nap in PM. Jim had nap and feels better.

February 6. Shoveled ore and scrap iron at Umeda. All mess gear
and Army clothing collected in PM. added 45 [(?)sic] [Ottly, Tag
saw James off for Witchita Falls]
[Presumably this note refers to James Steiger, George's son, who
became a fighter pilot over Germany. I don't know to whom Tag
refers to.]

February 7. Light rain during night and it is warmer. Two hour
hike and tai-so in PM. Wish I was with L'Ottly. This is a poor,
cold place!

February 8. Loaded ore and lumber at Umeda. Cold! High point in
day at Umeda chow runners; low point Wa Kei Rei "show" at 5:30 PM.
[I have not determined the meaning of Tai-so but Wa Kei Rei
means a bow to salute.]

February 9. Cold rain intermittently. Tai-so 10:30 inside.
Lt. Danny byer got us a half pound of butter. Section 1 got no
supper for bringing home an onion. We were searched but had nothing. W
e were paid Y40.

February 10. Went to work, got sick and rested from 10 AM on.

February 11. Abed all day. Nausea and flu - ache all over.

February 12. Filled out 99 Nip queries. "Do you like bombs or
artillery most." "What are your thoughts?"!!!!???

February 13. Routed out of bed for tai-so but sat by the fire
instead. Shaved and took two hour chill followed by fever. Pulse
130. Miserable, wakeful at night. Yamada by 6 to 7. We now salute
all Nips, beds up all day, etc.

February 14. I am moved to hospital. Better. Yamado by in AM.
[sic]

February 15. Capt. J. D. Kelley, Hollywood, C. E. Technicolor,
died.

February 17. Ration increased by bowl of rice at noon. 115 grains
quinine.

February 23. Start issue 2 tangerines to workers, 3 to hospital
patients daily. Yamada Shoey says we are a lot of thieves and loafers
whom he has been treating with great kindness. If we don't reform he
will have to treat us like cats and monkeys!

February 25. Jim Richards went to work first day since
28 January. Sixty-five men or 15% have died here in first 90 days.

February 26. All workers remained in and were deloused amid much
confusion.

February 27. Hospital deloused. I got my own blankets back.

February 28. Have been two weeks in hospital. Feel okay but have
pulse of 130. [George's pulse remained at this rate until after
he returned to the USA. He thought his heart was permanently damaged
but the Army doctors insisted the damage was to the vega [sic]
nerve. He had attacks of heart palpitation from this time on, some
very severe lasting for 24 hours at a time.]

March 2. In hospital. Thought about Tag and the boys but no writing
is allowed from Osaka. Hope they are fine!

March 3. Lt. Roy Davidson received three letter from his wife via
Geneva Red Cross. They were written in June 1942. Others also received
mail.

March 4. All officers, except those in hospital, received can of
corned beef.

March 5. Left hospital after 19 days. Have burning urine, vomiting,
no appetite, weigh 130 lbs.

March 6. Urine still burns but appetite better. Bought shoes from
Mr. Eugene Boyd for Y9.

March 7. All men off work. Allowed to go to bed during day. Bath.
Quiet.

March 8. Tai-so in AM, walk in PM. I feel terribly weak. Beautiful
day. Soldier brought "salt swept up off floor of box car." The guard
waved his hands and said, "No, no! Spread on rice at supper, dead in
twenty minutes." It was cyanide!

March 9. Tai-so in AM. Bright and warm but in a few minutes a
flurry of snow. Cold in PM> Bought mis-mated shoes from E. L. Boyd
for Y9.

March 10. Soldiers and Yamado Shoey left. Express company now runs
Umeda Bunsho including mess. Beans, barley and buns taken away. Leaves
only rice and watery soup - nearly as bad as Cabanatuan!

March 11. Moved from Section 5 to 11. Army removed its food
supplies. Rutz and I got some butter brought in by Lt. Simpson.
Lt. Richards and I part company.

March 12. Ate last can of type "C" rations. Was slapped by Okay.

March 13. Lumber and pulp at Umeda after 32 days off. Weak in
knees, otherwise OK.

March 14. Yasme, rest and bath. Sore and stiff.

March 15. Pulp and scrap iron at Umeda. Tired in knees and feet.

March 16. Laundry in AM. Wash staircase with Spainhower in PM.

March 17. Scrap iron at Umeda. Cut up tangerine peels for use in
soap making.

April 5. Work Umedo. Much "quan" found in doctors Nell and Brown
quarters. [These doctors were not popular with the men as they were
said to cooperate with the Japanese] All details searched PM. Tenko
before dark and blackout lights at dark.

April 6. Osaka, a city of 3 million people, has a "honey-cart" sewage
system and traffic cops with miniature swords and child size barber
chairs!

April 7. Work Umeda. New shoes and an 8 oz. can corned beef and Jap
teacup sugar.

April 9. Laid off. Read Ottly's letters for first time in Japan. Much
cheered. Hope I am home for my 40th birthday. This is her birthday!

April 10. Work Umeda. First day without overcoats. Bowl of dried
fruit, 12 oz. can corned beef, meat and vegetable.

April 11. Beans in soup and Red Cross porridge for breakfast and
supper.

April 12. Work Umeda. Bought vento [railway express boxes]
from Capt. Smith, also noodle soup at 2 PM. Felt good and was able to
work.

April 13. Yasme. Temperature 38 at 6 AM. Still plenty cold. Opened
curried mutton and tomatoes for supper.

April 14. Work Umeda. Bacon and apple pudding for supper. Good but
so little! Okay assures us he is honest!

April 15. Work Umeda. Syrup from swept-up sugar in box cars. Okay
slapped me for failure to Kuitske [salute]. Last of Red Cross
box used.

July 25. Okay brought in fish powder. Show in evening. Lt. rutz
still spreads rumor Mussolini is "out."

July 26. Goldblyth went to Kashihara in my place. Sick all night
but better this PM. Hard rain.

July 27. Yasme. Got bottle of syrup from Capt. Wray Y2.20. Red
hot dope says we leave this place Saturday night for Zentsuji!

July 28. Fourteen officers go to Kashihara to work.

July 29. Work Nacatsu in garage - last day. Have been to Umeda
Bunsho 248 days. Worked 81 days, sick 40.

July 30. Turn in property and so forth at Umeda Bunsho.

July 31. Murutsu Company "presents" gomashio and a jar of meat.
Leave Umeda Bunsho at 10:15 and Umeda Station at 11:45 AM.

August 1. Arrive Zentsuji at 8:30 AM. Will be in quarantine for a
week or two. Turn in all papers. Zentsuji is on the Island of Shikoku
south of Osaka. During World War I it had German prisoners of war
located there. It was a sort of propaganda camp which the Japanese
allowed the Red Cross to inspect. It was the best prison camp they had.

August 2. No showers here. Took bath at wash rack. Food and treatment
good here.

August 23. Read Ottly's letters for birthday present. Still wishing
I was home but things look better now.

August 24. Wrote to Ottly. It will be 30 days before the letter will
be typed and leave here.

August 25. Lt. Henry Bevis was on Lisbon Maru. 970 out 1815 were
saved. The Lisbon Maru was one of the ships which our Navy torpedoed
on which there were American prisoners-of war that the Japanese were
taking out of the Philippines.

October 6. Section "coops and moogs" confiscated. Tin dishes issued.
I made Zentsuji jail. Wool clothing and blankets issued. [The coops
and moogs incident was caused because of a misunderstanding. A Welsh
coal miner with somewhat of an accent was the bearer of the orders for
the day. The Japs wanted to have an inspection of the dishes but the
Welshman told George, who was room leader for 16A, there would be an
inspection of the "coops and moogs." This was Welsh for dishes! After
much discussion as to what was meant by "coops and moogs," room 16A put
out their cups for inspection. The Japanese took offense at this, put
George in the brig for [in]subordination, lectured him severely, and took
away the room's entire supply of dishes, giving them only a few poor
tin dishes. After this incident, George told me, all one had to do to
start a riot in 16A was to say "coops and moogs"! I think this Welshman's
name was Toler. The Japanese regarded anything given to the POW's as a
gift from His Most Gracious Majesty, The Emperor of Japan. George
always referred to himself as a "guest of His Majesty"!]

October 7. Signed card written 3 Oct. Section bought deck of
cards Y4.

October 9. Use of blankets prohibited except at night.

October 10. Much furor about officers going to work "on the
hill." [agriculture]

October 11. Read "100 Guinea Pigs." Bought deck of cards Y20.

October 12. Officers will not work on hill.

October 13. Lt. Erhardt received 14 word telegram from wife, Jewel.

October 14. Nippon grants Philippines independence.

October 15. Outside for chicken gravel. First time out since my
arrival. Red Cross packages - contents the same as of 12-25-42 -
at 6 PM.

November 2. Lt. Brown, BA was on Lisbon Maru. Rumor is rife regarding
people leaving Zentsuji.

November 3. Radio Tokyo started recording 3 minute broadcastings.
[Broadcasts were to be to the USA of these records at 9, 10, and
11 o'clock followed by propaganda speeches extolling the virtues of
the "Greater [East] Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere." The recordings
of prisoner-of war messages to their families were used to get an
audience for the propaganda.] Nip holiday.

November 4. Read "Man for the Ages," by Irving Batcheller.

November 5. Capt. Gordon, RN "Two Years on the Royal Yacht."

November 6. Made recording for Radio Tokyo. [Broadcast in L. A.
Jan 1944.] Received reply from Ottly 15 March 1944.

November 7. Read Jay's "Franklin."

November 8. Met Capt. Bill Bathgate from "Malaya."

November 9. Red Cross box received at 4 PM.

November 10. Big Naval battle off Bougainville! Nips claim victory,
30 of our warships sunk, so they say! [Our men were able to watch
the progress of the war from the Jap newspaper accounts. The papers
always claimed victory and stated we were encroaching on their
territory but our men could note that the territory encroached upon
kept getting closer and closer to Japan. One of George's favorite
stories about their news accounts was an account of a big bombing raid.
The paper stated "All was confusion!" Then to save face, "But controlled
confusion!" It was a favorite saying of his!]

November 11. 620 chickens on hand. First egg laid today. Casino
burned as per Ottly's letter received here January 44. [Casino
Gardens, Ocean Park, was a favorite place to dance with George.]

November 12. Nip pilots are superior because the wear geta and
drink tea says Mainichi!

November 17. New "peanut shell" blankets issued. Rats race in ceiling
and over our beds at night. [Dick Fulmer told a story of rats in a camp
where he was held. The Japs got a cat to catch the rats but the POW's
quickly caught the cat and ate it. Another cat was brought by the Japs
which met the same fate. Then the Japs got wise and were slightly amused.
They got another cat and issued the warning that if this cat disappeared
the rations would be cut. The boys did not kill this cat but they took
each rat the cat caught, cooked it and ate it. The cat became discouraged
and left camp. The Japanese thought the cat had been killed and lectured
the POW's severely, also cut their rations as threatened. Dick told this
story at a breakfast gathering in our home at 3709 Cherrywood after the
war. I commented, "Oh, no!" to which he replied, "A rat is a good, clean,
grain-eating animal - fine to eat." I thought rats carried bubonic
plague. But, no, Dick said the fleas carry the plague, not the rats, and
if they had had more time, they could have told us which fleas were
palatable!]

November 19. Olcott gets 10 days and John Harper, his room leader,
3 days confined to quarters.

November 23. Over 1,000 letters in camp from the Teia Maru. None for
us who arrived in August.

December 15. Daikon [a sort of radish] tops drying all around
the camp. Good greens.

December 17. Bought pictures of 150 guests [here he means
POW's] from Capt. John Tozer. [The Japanese made a big point
of impressing upon the prisoners that any dish, articles of clothing
or whatever they received were gifts of the Emperor.]

December 18. Five RAF fliers from Hokkaido were brought in.

December 23. Beans for breakfast and supper last night! Trip for
garage sand in PM. Nips issue decorative paper for Xmas decorations.

December 26. Weight 160. "At Home" in 16B from 2 to 4. Warm sun
all day. "Ali Baba" with usherettes.

December 27. Capt. John Tozer, 1st duty officer 16A.

December 28. Sign 300 word letter to Ottly.

December 29. Not in formation for tenko but for doctor. Stand in
cold 45 minutes.

December 30. Marvelous package from L'Ottly!!!!

December 31. Inspection day by Camp superintendent 2 PM. Popular
concert 6 to 8. Bed 9 PM. Y863.50 on deposit.

1943 Holidays at Zentsuji

A More Detailed Account Found In Other Notes

December 23. Weather has been clear, fairly warm in the sun during the day. Went on a detail from 2 to 4 PM to haul sand for the garage floor. Nips issued colored paper for decorations at 5 PM. (We paid for it later) Doug Millicen and Lex Fraser started decorating room.

December 24. Awakened at 2 AM by patter of rain on the benjo roof. Rained until 6 AM. Continued cloudy but no rain and not very cold. Finished decorations in AM. Camp Supt. Inspected rooms in AM which caused a panic. Red Cross boxes were issued at 3 PM. Ted Goode and I shared an African box plus 1/9 each of a Canadian box. Had bath at 4 PM. Everyone in high spirits. Excellent carols in canteen. Mess Cook, Olson, sang us his "Xmas Tree" song. Tenko and taps one-half hour later.

December 25. Christmas Day! Hot water and a shave before breakfast. Cocoa, rice, excellent beans for breakfast, also corned beef. Shined and installed insignia. Hard tack, butter, jam, hot milk and sugar 9 AM followed by tour of inspection with Bill Stecker. Room 18 had 6 foot tree and cut away of stable. All rooms nicely decorated except 9B. Had coffee with Stecker and Eddington. Bread, jam, rabbit and chicken stew for dinner. Two eggs, 10 tangerines per man issued. Johnny Valkenaar (El Paso) brought a can of cheese as a present! Room 23 had a dummy fireplace. Big party upstairs from 2 to 4 followed by our formal dinner. To 16B  rice and excellent stew. Rice, sugar milk and prune pie. Bread and jam sweets, sweet buns and tangerines. Lou Besbeck (LA) put on Dickens "A Christmas Carol" in Canteen. Late tenko again. A VERY GOOD DAY!

December 26. Plenty to eat. Read Ottly's letters in sun in the morning. 16B gave us a tea 2 to 4. "Ali Baba" ended series of shows on slightly rakish note. Gordon Eccles, et al, made a hit as usherettes. 16A presented my "leltter" after tenko.

December 27. Ted Goode and I had 2 O'clock tea. Can bacon, 5 eggs, ½ can cheese, onion tops, bread and butter, jam, tea and sugar.

December 28. Signed 300 word letter to Ottly. Slightly ill.

December 29. Not in formation for doctor at tenko. Stood at attention in cold for 45 minutes. 12A composed and sang the following song:

The doctor came in and looked all around
And then he stomped out with a terrible frown
Two men playing chess, they let a groan
'Twas then that they knew that the bugle had blown
Then out in the night with their coats left behind
To stand 45 minutes in a shivering line
The doctor said, "Listen, I'll tell you once more
Your conduct at muster has made me quite sore"
Then George rubbed his eyes though they weren't sore
He looked at the eso, he'd been there before
Then back to their room with a sigh of relief
To think what a narrow escape from black grief!

December 30. Received marvelous package from L'Ottly  first word in 2 years!

1944

January 1. New Year's Day! Col. Miller and staff with important announcement. Room leaders tea in afternoon. Worn shirt, Ferris new tie and my new sweater to Prune Pickers' tea in the afternoon. Donned new underwear after 4 PM bath. California Club tea. A bright, warm day. The war will o'er in 44!

April 28. Max Pestalozzi, Int'l Red Cross Representative here. First Red Cross Rep I've seen in 2 yrs of captivity. Meat and eggs for dinner. First beef in 9 months and more than usual to eat as of the past 2 months.

April 30. Donned new Red Cross work pants for summer. Wore wool trousers 6 months, less one day for washing.

May 2. Mainichi says, "Japan will send ships to Vladivostok for Red Cross supplies and mail."

July 15. Mattresses redistributed at Zentsuji. Work party. Captains and above that rank now have them.

July 16. Weight 150.

July 18. Tojo and cabinet resign. So what?

July 19. Mainichi admits loss of Saipan. Mainichi has reported U. S. encroaching on Jap territory and describes how valiantly the Japs are driving them off but we note that the encroachment keeps coming closer to Japan!

September 26. To Walta Cadmus for rice, cheese, onion quan and coffee with cream and sugar. Had a very pleasant chat. Rain check on birthday party  very nice.

September 27. Capt. Hositani told Capt. Linsberry that Japan had agreed to received and distribute Red Cross supplies.

October 1. Very good housewarming party at supper by new members of 16A. Drafted a 25 word message to Ottly.

October 2. 25 words to Ottly returned  extended to 40. Revision of camp regulations allows lying on bunks in daytime.

October 5. Security watch with Lou Besbeck 9 to 11:15. Plenty of hot tea. My first official watch.

October 13. Ottly's 25 word cards of 20 May, 27 June 1944 contain snaps of Ottly, Arden and faces of boys. [Cut because they were in uniform.] May letter was first one to have a word censored.

October 15. First cold day. Extra ration of rice plus noodle soup - the last of Ottly's pkg.

October 16. Received Ottly's 25 worder of 31 July, 9 August 1944.

October 21. First hot bath of season in ½ pail of water. Donned Red Cross wool shirt for winter.

October 22. Weight 140. Paid Y 30.

November 1. Kobyashi left Zentsuji. Has been here since 14 February.

November 5. Total of 6 Red Cross parcels in 30 months of being POW plus 1 pkg from Ottly.

November 6. Surprise tenko 11:20 to 12 PM. Red Newton "over the fence" and got 30 days in Nip jail. [The men went "over the fence" to raid a nearby bakery. In spite of constantly being caught and punished they continued to do this.]

November 7. Tenko and shake-down 11:30 to 12:20. De Arezzo, Jim Powell, Travis Smith, Doc Curtis, Ryan, Mikalek, Bill Mies all sent to brig for having unauthorized materials.

November 10. Spoke with Jim Richards first time in months. Local election in camp with following results: FDR 188, Dewey 26.

November 11. Major B. Barrett, C of E, died 7:30 PM. De Arrezo released from brig. One blanket per man collected leaving us with 4 "peanut" blankets each.

November 12. Sweet potato jam at 3 PM  first time in months.

November 13. Nov 6th officers released from brig.

November 16. Received Ottly's 25 word message 10 Aug 44. Weight 138.

November 20. Signed 40 word message #13 to L'Ottly.

November 21. First Lt. Moulden RAF died. Ferris and Anse gave me tube of Mennens "brushless" in lieu of mentholatum. First of 9500 Red Cross parcels arrive 9 AM.

November 22. One 10# Red Cross parcel per man issued 2 PM. I am truly full due to all day eating!

November 26. To Eddington for breakfast cocoa. Lt. H. A. Smitty for AM coffee. I went to his room for PM cocoa and sweet potato jam.

November 27. Received 25 word letter from Oyly of 20 June 44. Robert Chandler, Captain C of E, operated on for hemorrhoids.

November 29. Sgt. Sabey, USMC, died.

November 30. Red Cross parcel at 1:30. Good room dinner in PM.

December 1. Fred Garrett arrived. [He was a flier who was shot down and had a badly injured leg which the Nips took off at his hip. Nips refuse to let the others carry him or help him in any way when they had to climb up the hill from Fukui to Rokcuroshi in 1945. George admired him very much as he was a very plucky fellow.] 1st Lt Air Corps, assigned to 16A. George Manneschmidt, Capt. Inf. to 9A.

December 2. No hot baths because of coal shortage. Ferris Spoor to 9B for supper exchange,
Lex Fraser, Beverly, Sleeman & accordion. Overcoats okayed except for inside muster. Last year same on Dec. 8.

December 4. Permission granted to use 2 blankets during day. To Valkenaar's for good coffee 3 PM. Anse, Ferris and I had delicious burned rice quan at 4 PM.

December 9. Harkey "D. J." won Y 2400 at dice. Some rooms disagree on Xmas dinner. Nips ask for vegetable recommendations for 10 day period.

December 10. Hot (120 degrees) bath, first in 15 days because of coal shortage.

December 30. An issue of Red Cross clothing. I received a handkerchief  okay. No coal  no baths!

December 31. Excellent 16A party in evening. I played oldest, small phone, very B.O. [sic]
Vomited during night because of Capt. Barlett's wine. Col. Marion Unruh, Jim Parker guest.

1945

January 1. I shall prognosticate no more about this ____ war! At least we are still alive in '45 and can't help but add that I hope we'll be out of the sticks by 46! I can't go along with these guys who say, "The Golden Gate in '48." That's too far away  we'll never make it! Room duty with Tim Robinson. Beans for breakfast, taro and carrots for supper. Good chow!

January 2. Johnny Valkenaar for 2 PM coffee and quan.

January 4. Sunny day. Cold showers  first since Xmas.

January 6. Issued 10 lb. Red Cross parcel at 5 PM.

January 8. Capt. Stan Wilson - coffee at his table AM. To Lt. Gilette's in PM.

January 9. Chuck Erhardt to "2 ration sweet quan" room 15 in PM.

January 10. Received cards from Jo Wallace of Sept. 44.

January 12. Cold bath AM. Los Angeles Zentsujians had "bring own quan" in AM. To Eddington's in PM.

June 24. Leave Okayama at 6:50 AM, Osaka 12 to 1, Fukui 7:30. Leave Fukui by electric car at 8:10, ride until 9:50. Start hike up the hill at 11 PM. Fred Garrett (one leg) was not allowed to have our help.
[Going through Osaka, which was a city of 3,000,000 known to George because of his working there when he first came to Japan, was practically leveled by our B29 raids. Only an occasional piece of a bldg was standing. There was a strong odor of death. The B29's had done a real job of devastation here. Fukui is a city on the west side of Japan about opposite Tokyo. Rokuroshi was high up in the mountains near Fukui.]

June 25. Arrive Rokuroshi at 2 AM. Cloudy but no rain. Rest of our baggage arrived in PM.

June 26. Baggage inspection in the AM by Japanese commander. Weight 143.

July 12. Rain all night and all day. Kinchies (cigarettes) arrive 1:30 PM. Read "Mast At Arms" by R. Sabatini.

July 13. Cloudy, cold, wet but no rain. Sick call with broken rib. Told it was arthritis due to vitamin C deficiency. Tenko 7:30 and no lights.

July 14. No rain, some sun, mostly cloudy. Work in garden 2 hrs. AM and PM. Took "honor satisfy" bath and did laundry in evening.

July 15. Two hours work. 120 men AM punishment for stealing carpenter's lunch. Rain in PM. Tea with Lt. Smith 3 to 4.

July 17. Resume 4 hour period work schedule but no work because of rain all day.

July 18. Rain in AM. Clear enough for planting detail to work in PM. Signed promise to work "as per verbal agreement" amid much controversy.

July 19. First all sunny day in a week. Work with planters in afternoon. Blackout as many planes came 10 to 1 AM. Red glow in the western sky. Bill Meis fell off ladder. 70 sacks of rice arrived and were stowed in the new galley.

July 20. Pleasant 4 hrs on hill in AM. PM work party rained out. Read "Day Must Dawn" which is a story of Penn pioneers  fair.

July 21. Rain all day. General from "Cross Creek" failed to arrive for inspection. Some men worked in rain carrying rocks to floor new galley.

July 22. Rain all day. Inspection by Camp Supt at 11 AM. Good rice ration, wheat taken out. Few beans in soup.

July 23. On hill 8 to 11:30. Inspection by General and Col. from Osaka area. Sweet potato also miso [sic] soup for dinner from new galley. Rain prevents work on hill in PM after 2 attempts. Security watch with Ginsberg 11:30 to 12:30.

July 24. Weight 134, a loss of 10 pounds in one month. This is the average for officers. [Japanese] Sgt. Major says, "One kilo lost weight equals 4 kilos gain in toughness!"

July 30. Two miles up mountain for fence poles in AM. "Turk" Critchlow helped me with room duty.

August 1. Hauled firewood from hill clearing in AM. Issue of quadruple cooked (ox?) bones.
[Soup had been made with these bones many, many times and the galley crew was going to throw them out. Someone observed it was a shame to throw away all these good bones so they were issued out one to each man. The men chewed o them, got the marrow out, and beat them up generally for a couple of days. Then they were collected to be disposed of but when the galley crew saw them again, they couldn't bear to throw them out., so they made soup with them again!] Planes with lights on over at 10 to 12. Much
noise, counting, turning on lights etc. by guards all night.

August 3. Rice cut to 295 grams (10 ½ oz). Part of national cut?? Work stopped. Just when I thought we were about to receive a living ration!

August 10. Nip duty officer instructs us to catch our fleas so they won't get on him!

August 11. "Home for the holidays??????" Still hoping! To hill to work in PM, driven in by rain.

August 12. Work call 7:30. I went to hill in AM. About 25 did not work all day. Put on non-work ration for 3 months. PM shift driven in by rain 3 PM.

August 13. Work on hill AM. First hot bath in this camp in PM.

August 14. Vapor streams. Many planes southeast about 11 to 12. On hill in PM. Camp commander unhappy about amount of work done. Made inspection of mess at 3 PM. I was on security watch from 12:30 to 1:30 AM.

August 15. Work AM. Good bath and laundry in PM. Officers start dipping benjo. [Japanese dictionary defines benjo as "toilet"] My maps taken from Lt. Henry Knox by Fujimoto.

August 17. Officers and enlisted men ordered to quit work.

August 18. Nips ask for 5 enlisted men to volunteer to repair water supply, reward them with cucumbers. Accordion concert and smoking outside in evening. Many think the war is over. I am afraid to think so.

August 20. Weight 130.

August 21. Security watch 3:30 to 4:30. Dutch bugler played American reveille! Is this War over ??!
Fujimoto returns maps intact. They are worn out now.

August 22. Camp C. O. told us at 4 PM that the war has ended. What a birthday  my 41st but I try to rationalize that I am 40 until I am 41 and so for me "life begins at 40." later, adds to his diary:

August 24. We were told at 10 AM that tomorrow a plane will drop comfort kits. Painted P O W on roof.

August 26. Continued high wind and intermittent rain. Seems to be keeping planes away. Many disappointed. Plethoric issue tooth powder and brushes and toilet paper (now that we don't need it!) We are fortunate to be alive as with the severe climate here and food for only a few days ahead, w could never last the winter. We have been cold this summer and have worn all our clothing to keep warm and used all our blankets at night. Can imagine how severe the winter here would be.

August 27. Other than a decided improvement in chow, life pretty much as usual. Much speculation regarding the time of departure and much discontent that we're still here. First exercise and walk one hour with Tom Sawyer in AM.

August 28. Walk for one hour AM and PM with Tom Sawyer, Ferris and Anse. Storm seems definitely over. B 29 flew over 3 PM. We were paid Y 95.50. Security watch discontinued. #17 [sic] grapes and pears Y 2.80. Squid, hash and sake (!) for supper. Now receiving about 3,000 calories per day. Up to now the issue ration for 2 ½ years has averaged 1,500 calories.

August 29. A milk can full of beans and rice for breakfast. Remarkable! Walk to village 3 to 4 PM. Visit rice mills, crematory, shrines, etc. School children present melons, villagers bake rice and bean cakes and serve with grape and pear jam for desert. Many upset stomachs from over eating.

September 1. Kyoto party returned 10 PM with truck load of surplus supplies from other camps. Everyone up the rest of the night distributing and eating.

September 2. At 4 PM the United States flag was raised over our camp, now named Camp Mallette.
Ferris asked me at 9 AM to work in galley  okay. Six B 29's dropped 150 chutes loaded with food, clothing, medicine, magazines at 10 to 11 AM. I stayed up until 1 AM cooking "beans for breakfast." Hubert Shurtz ate 20 lbs of food and was not sick!

September 3. Labor day. I had to quit galley because I have worst attack of piles I've ever had. Plenty to eat, liberty to go about, and I'm flat on my back!

September 4. Still painfully abed but much interesting reading in state-side magazines. Miss the ads, deleted from special overseas editions.

September 10. Arrive Yokohama 8 AM. Greeted by Gen. Eichelberger, C O 8th Army. Also there was a band to greet us and hot cakes! Shower, bugpowder and boarded the USS Tryon at 11 AM. Moved into stream 6 PM. "Between Two Women." Lights out at 10  okay.

September 12. Tryon under way 7 AM. Continuous line of ships both sides of us until noon.

September 13. Played phonograph CPO wardroom in afternoon. Return later for supper and I not very hungry .poor show! Frank Ginsberg gave me one dollar bill U. S.

September 14. Table waiter, Hayes, lazy, service poor. He is amazed at amount of jam we eat. He puts bread, butter and jam on table and whisk, it is all gone! Borrowed swim trunks and lay in sun on deck with Tom Sawyer 9 to 11.

September 29. Storm King passed Ulithi 10 PM. 10,000 POW's leave Yokohama for Frisco. Nuts! They will probably beat us there and we'll have to wait for them to be processed before we can get out.

October 6. Passed International dateline [in] the AM. This day doubled to regain Sunday 7 Sept 1941 lost when I came out on the Pierce.

October 8. Arrived Pearly Harbor 3 PM. Ashore with Tom Sawyer. Haircut, shine and malts. Bought perfume and holder for L'O. Phoned L'O  12 minutes for $37.50. Tom called his wife and found there is something wrong there. As it turned out, she would not see him or let him see his son born after Tom went to P. I. She had written and sent photos while he was a POW and collected his allotment but evidently had another man on the string. She would not admit there was anything of this nature. She sued him for divorce in Calif. asking for ½ his back pay. The Army transferred him to Texas which was his legal residence and he sued her for divorce there but still had to give her $2,000 as a settlement out of his back pay.

October 15. Arrived San Francisco and met by Ottly, George, Jim [his two sons] and Don Kates. Stayed at Hotel St. Francis. Processed at Leaderman General Hospital before leaving for Los Angeles and 3709 Cherrywood Ave!